Window-sash balance



H's ATTORNEYS 1450f Zarson.

Sept. 12; 1933. A. LARSON v wmpow SASH BALANCE Filed May 5, 1932 Patented Sept. 12, 1933 1,926,951 WINDOW-SASH BALANCE Algot Larson, Elmhurst Ill., assignor to Unique Balance 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 3, 1932. Serial No. 608,956

10 Claims. (01. 16-197) This invention relates to certain novel improvements in window sash balances, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

This invention is a continuation in part of my copending U. S. application Ser. No. 556,651, filed August 12, 1931, and also a continuation in part of my U. S. Patent No. 1,864,745, June 28, 1932.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved window sash balance which may be readily installed on any window construction without the use of the frame boxes or housings now commonly employed with sash cords and weights.

The improved window sash balance described and claimed in my U. S. application, Serial No. 556,651, includes a spiral member having an end portion for attachment to the casing of a window and having an end portion extended into an elongated coil spring which is arranged within a tube. One end of the spring is free to rotate about the spiral member and the other end of the spring is fixed'to the tube which in turn is fixed to the sash. This balance is such that as the sash is moved the spiral member isfed into or out of the coil spring and the free end of the spring revolves about the spiral member. In order for the spring to operate successfully in the balance above referred to it must be maintained under tension, and the tension of the spring must be adjusted to the requirements of the weight and size of the sash with which the balance is used when installed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for easily and conveniently tensioning the coil spring embodied in my improved sash balance, and for adjusting the tension of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for tensioning the coil spring, which tensioning means includes a ratchet element having portions receivable in guideways formed in the tube for fixing one end of the coil spring relative to the tube and spiral member.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for attaching one end of the tube to a sash; and to associate said means in a novel manner as an integral projecting portion of the tube.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter ratchet or spring-tensioning element 33 which described and claimed.

showing the ribs on a ratchet element embodied The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window frame and sash, part of the frame being torn away .to show my improved sash balance in installed position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, partly in section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view of my improved balance showingthe tube with parts thereof broken away to show the coil spring and other elements of the invention; 79

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the spiral member embodied in the improved balance;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a fragment of the tube, the guideways formed therein, and showing my improved means for attaching the tube to asash;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing my improved means for tensioning the coil spring and in the invention for fixing one, end of the coil spring relative to the tube; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a guide member and retaining ring embodied in the balance.

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferred form of the invention, 10 indicates an elongated coil spring. A series of thewindings 11 at one end of the spring 11 are wound about and secured in a spiral groove 12 formed in the stem 13 of a guide member 14 that is arranged within and at one .end of a tubular member 20. This member 14 provides a guide 'for guidingthe spiral member 24 into and out of the tubular member 20 and coil spring 10, as will appear hereinafter. A series of windingslS at the other end of the spring 10 are wound about a portion 16 of a member 1'7 that is arranged within the tube 20 at the other end thereof; the end winding 18 of the spring being secured in an annular groove 19 formed in the member 17. Extending through this member 17 is a bore 45.

Formed as a part of the member 17 is a ratchet or spring-tensioning element 30 and in the end of member'17 is a tool-receiving portion or slot 31 which communicates with bore 45 in member 1'7. Formed in the-tube 20 are guideways or grooves 32 which open out of the tube 20 at the end 23 thereof. Arranged in the tube 20 is a has projecting portions or ribs 34 that are 655- 10 the tube 20 through the end .23 thereof and the engagement of shoulder 22 with bearing 21 prevents the member 14 and the coil spring 10 from being slid past the bearing 21.

One end of the guide member 14 is splayed, as at 25, and opening out of this splayed end 25 of the guide member 14 is a slot or mouth 26 which communicates with a bore 27 that is formed in and extends through the guide member 14.

The spiral member 24 has an end portion 28' which extends transversely of the axis of the spiral member 24. The spiral member 24 has a fiat end portion 37 which is provided with an aperture 46 to receive an element such as screw 42 for attaching the spiral member 24 to a window frame 40. This end portion 37 may be inserted through the tool slot 31, through the bores 45 and 35, through thecoil spring 10, and through the bore 27 and mouth 26 thereof inthe guide member 14.

To assemble the parts of the balance the member 17 is inserted through the bore 35 in the ratchet element 33 and the winding 18 of coil spring 10 is then secured to the member 17 in groove 19 thereof. The guide member 14, coil spring 10, and member 17 may then be inserted into the tube 20. through the end 23 thereof until the shoulder 22 on guide member 14 abuts the bearing 21; the ribs 34 of ratchet element 33 being entered in the guideways 32. At this time the splayed-end 25 of guide member 14 will project beyond the end 29 of tube 20 and the spring 10"wi1l be slightly tensioned axially to keep the teeth of ratchet elements 30 and 33 in engagement with each other. A retaining ring 36 is thenfrictionally fittedover the splayed end 25 of the guide member 14 to secure the spring in the tube. The end 37 of the spiral member 24 may then be inserted through slot 31 through bores 45 and 35, through coil spring 10, and through the bore 27 and the mouth 26 thereof in the guide member 14. The engagement of the end portion 28 of the spiral member 24 in the mouth 26 of the guide member 14 acts as a stop to prevent said end 28 of the spiral member frombeing fed out of the mouth 26.

In mounting the balance for use on either the upper sash 38 or the lower sash 39 the end portion 37 of spiral member 24 is attached to window frame 20 adjacent the upper end thereof, by insertinga fastening element such as screw 42 through aperture 46, and I utilize an extended portion of the usual sash groove 41 for the reception of the tube 20.

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, it is an object of this invention to provide novel means for effectively securing the: tube 20 to the sash in the sash groove 41. To this end I form integral with the tube 20 at the end 23 thereof a portion 43 which projects from the tube 20. Said projecting portion 43 is provided with an aperture 44 for the passage of an element such as nail 47 whereby to secure said'portion 43 in a recess 48 in the sash and thus to secure the tube 20 to the sash.

To'use my improved balance with the lower sash 39 the tube 20 is placed in the sash groove 41, the spiral member 24 being inserted into the spring 10 in the manner hereinbefore described. The projecting portion 43 is then inserted into the recess 48 in the window sash 39 and said portion 43 is secured to the sash by a fastening element such as nail 47 passed through aperture 44 in portion 43. The sash is then raised into opened position and the end 37 of the spiral member 24 is attached to the window frame 40 by inserting element 42 through aperture 46 into the frame 40 while the spiral member 24 is still disposed largely within the coil spring 10. Therefore, as the sash 39 is lowered into closed position the spiral member 24 is retracted out of the coil spring 10 and the free end of the coil spring, together with the guide member 14, revolve about the spiral member 24, thus placing the coil spring 10 under tension. However, as the sash 39 is raised the free end of the coil spring 10 and guide member 14 will revolve about the spiral member 24 in an opposite direction and the tension of spring 10 will be relieved, thus facilitating the raising of sash 39. When, therefore, the sash 39 is brought down into and allowed to remain in closed position the coil spring 10 remains under tension.

To use my improved balance with the upper sash 38 the spiral member 24 is inserted into the coil spring 10 in the manner hereinbefore described and the tube 20 is placed in the sash groove 41; the projecting portion 43 being inserted into a recess, similar to recess 48, in the sash 38. The end 37 of the spiral member 24 is then attached to the frame 40 by means of an element such as screw 42 passed through aperture 46, while the spiral member 24 is still in the coil spring 10. When, therefore, the upper sash 38 is lowered the free end of coil spring 10, together with guide member 14, will revolve about the spiral member 24, thus placing the coil spring 10 under tension. However, as the sash 38 is raised the free end of coil spring 10, together with guide member 14, will revolve about the spiral member 14 in an opposite direction and the tension of the coil spring 10 will be relieved, thus facilitating the closing of the sash 38.

As shown in Fig. 5, the pitch of the spiral member 24 increases gradually from the end 37 to the end 28. When, therefore, the spiral member is retracted out of the coil spring 10 and the spring is under tension the free end of spring 10, together with guide member 14, will revolve relatively slowly at first as the lower sash is moved to open position, or as the upper sash is moved to closed position, and the speed with which the free end of spring 10, together with guide member 14, will revolve about the spiral member 24 will gradually increase as the spiral member 24 is fed into the coil spring 10. The increased or greater pitch provided in the spiral member 24 toward the end 28 prevents the tensioned spring from raising the lower sash into open position when closed while preventing the tensioned spring from raising the upper sash to closed position when open. This isdue to the fact that the increased or greater pitch of the spiral member 24 toward end 28 thereof makes it more diflicult for the free end of the spring 10,

together with guide member 14, to revolve as the same near the end portion 28 of the spiral member 24. The gradually decreasing pitch provided in the spiral member 24 toward the end 37 thereof facilitates the rotative movement of the free end of the spring, together with uide member .14, about the spiral member 24 as the lower sash is moved into open position, or the upper sash moved to closed position, and the tension of the spring 10 is decreased. Conversely, the rotative movement of the free end of spring 10, together with the guide member 14, about the spiral member 24 is relatively fast at first as the lower sash is moved into closed position or the upper sash is moved to open position. This graduated arrangement of the pitch in the spiral member 24 prevents the lower sash from falling into closed position when open and prevents the tensioned spring from pulling the lowcqsash into opened position when closed; the converse being the case with the upper sash, since in the latter case the graduated pitch of the spiral member 24 prevents the upper sash from being pulled open too rapidly when closed and facilitates closing of the upper sash when the same is open. Likewise this graduated pitch of the spiral member 24 prevents slamming of the lower sash when the same is moved from open to closed position since the increased pitch toward the end 28 of the spiral member slows up the motion of the lower sash as the same is moved from open to closedposition. Conversely, the graduated pitch of the spiral member 24 facilitates closing the upper sash 38.

In case the spring 10 loses some of its tension and effectiveness due to standing under tension, a suitable tool may be inserted into the toolreceiving slot 31 in ratchet element 30 and by rotating said. ratchet member 30, (counterclockwise as seen looking in from the right hand end of Fig. 4) the teeth of the ratchet element 30 will ride over the teeth of the ratchet element 33 and the spring 10 may thus be tensioned; the engagement of the teeth on the ratchet elements 30 and 33 preventing unwinding of the thus tensioned spring 10 when the tool is removed from g slot 31. In this manner also the tension of the spring 10 may be adjustedto meet the requirements of various sizes and weights of window sashes with which the balance may be used.

Since I utilize the usual sash grooves 41 or extended portions thereof for the reception of tube 20 it will be seen that I eliminate the usual boxes in the frame 40 used in conjunction with sash cords and weights.

The insertion of portion 43 into the recess 48 in the sash prevents rotation of the tube 20 relative to spring 10 and spiral member 24.

The end of the coil spring 10 opposite the end attached to guidev member 14 is normally fixed relative to the tube 20 by reason of the fact that the teeth of the spring-tensioning or ratchet elements 30 and 33 areengagedwith each other due to the axial tension placed on coil spring 10 when the retaining ring 36 is inserted over the splayed end 25 of guide member 14 as hereinbefore described; and due to the fact that the ribs or pro- Jecting elements 34 on the ratchet ,or spring-tensioning element 33 are disposed in the guideways 32 oftube 20. v a

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modiflcation, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I about said spiral member, and adjustable means for tensioning said coil spring, said means including a ratchet element having portions receivable in said guideways for fixing said other end of said coil spring relative to said tubular member.

2. A window sash balance comprising a tubular member, a spiral member, a coil spring in said tubular member having one end free to revolve about said spiral member, guideways in said tubular member, an element having portions disposed in said guideways, and an element for cooperation with said first-named element having the other end of said coil spring attached thereto.

3. A window sash balance comprising a tubular member, a spiral member, a coil spring in said tubular member having one end free to revolve about said spiral member, guideways in said tubular member, a ratchet element having ribs receivable in said guideways, and a ratchet element for cooperation with said first-named ratchet element having the other end of said coil spring attached thereto.

4. A window sash balance comprising a tubular member, a spiral member, a coil spring in said tubular member having one end free' to revolve about said spiral member, said tubular member having grooves provided therein, an element having portions receivable in said grooves and having a bore extending therethrough, and a second element for cooperation with said first-named element having a portion extended through said bore attached to the other end of said coil spring.

5. A window sash balance comprising a tubular member,- a spiral member, a coil spring in said tubular member having one end free to revolve about said spiral member, guideways in said tubular member, a ratchet element having ribs disposed in said guideways and having a bore extending therethrough, and a second ratchet element for cooperation with said first-named ratchet element having a tool-receiving portion, said second-named ratchet element having a portion extended through said bore attached to the other end of said coil spring.

6. A window sash balance, comprising a tubular member, a coil spring in said tubular member, an elongated spiral rod member having a portion arranged for movement into and out of said coil spring and tubular member, said coil spring having one end free to revolve about said spiral rod member, a spring-tensioning element arranged within and non-rotatable relative to the said tubular member having a bore extending therethrough axially of the said tubularmember, and

a second spring-tensioning element rotatablymounted in said tubular member for cooperation with said first-named tensioning element including a portion extended through said bore having the other end '7. A window sash balance, comprising a tubuof said coil spring attached therelar member, a spiral member, a coil spring in I tubular member for cooperation with said firstnamed tensioning element including a portion extended through saidvbore having the other end of said coil spring attached thereto.

8. A window sash balance, comprising a tubular member, a coil spring in said tubular member,

an elongated spiral rod member having a portion movable into and out of said coil spring and tubular member, said coil spring having one end free to revolve about said spiral member, a spring-tensioning element arranged within and non-rotatable relative to the said tubular member and coil spring, and a second spring-tensioning element rotatably mounted in said tubular membar for cooperation with the said first-named tensioning element having the other end of said spring attached thereto.

9. A window sash balance, comprising a tubular member, a coil spring in said tubular member, an elongated spiral rod member having a portion movable intoand out of said coil spring and tubular member, said coil'spring having one end free" to revolve about said spiral member, and a ratchet element arranged within and non-rotatable relative to the said tubular member, and a second ratchet element rotatably mounted in the said tubular member for cooperation with the said first-named ratchet element having the other end of said coil spring attached thereto. i

10. A window sash balance, comprising a tubular member, a coil spring in said tubular member, an elongated spiral rod member having a portion movable into and out of said coil spring and tubular member, saidcoil spring having one end 

